China and Uzbekistan, both as members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), have made active efforts in maintaining regional stability and promoting common development, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) said on Tuesday.

 

Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks as he met with Uzbek President Islam Karimov.

 

The CPC and the Chinese government, which attach great importance to the friendly cooperation with Uzbekistan, are willing to upgrade the relationship between the two countries in an all-round way, and have confidence in the prospects for the development of their friendly cooperation, Li said.

 

Last year, bilateral relations entered a new phase after President Karimov and Chinese President Hu Jintao signed an agreement on the friendly cooperation partnership of China and Uzbekistan, he said.

 

While recalling the history of friendship between the two countries, Li said China and Uzbekistan have conducted active coordination on major international and regional issues.

 

He reiterated China's support for the choice of Uzbekistan for its development road and appreciated Uzbekistan's support for China on some important issues such as Taiwan and human rights.

 

During their meeting, Karimov highly praised China's contribution to the development of the SCO.

 

He said Uzbekistan will continue to give strong backing to China's efforts in strengthening the SCO and his country will, along with other SCO members, work for maintaining regional peace and stability so as to promote common development.

 

Karimov also said he was looking forward to meeting with President Hu at the upcoming SCO summit to be held in Shanghai on June 15.

 

The SCO, established in 2001, groups China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

 

Li arrived in Tashkent Tuesday afternoon to start a good-will visit to Uzbekistan, the first leg of his four-nation tour, which will also take him to Bulgaria, Switzerland and Norway.

 

(Xinhua News Agency June 7, 2006)